Peter Masak
Encyclopedia
Peter C. Masak was an engineer
, inventor, and glider pilot. He graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science
degree in Mechanical Engineering
in May 1981 from the University of Waterloo
, Ontario Canada. He earned his glider pilot license
at the age of 16 and his power pilot license at the age of 18, both of which are the minimum age to do so. Peter was a Canadian soaring record holder and represented Canada
and later the United States
in the World Gliding Championships
. He logged almost 2000 hours of glider flight time. He was living in West Chester, Pennsylvania
with his wife Adrienne and their three children when he died.
, an associate professor of aerospace engineering
at the Pennsylvania State University
, to design winglets for his racing sailplane to improve performance. Others had attempted to apply Richard T. Whitcomb's NASA
winglets to gliders before, and they did improve climb performance, but this did not offset the parasite drag penalty in high speed cruise. Masak was convinced it was possible to overcome this hurdle.
By trial and error, they developed successful winglet designs for gliding competitions
. At the 1991 World Gliding Championships
in Uvalde, Texas
, the trophy for the highest speed went to a glider with Masak's winglets. Masak went on to win the 1993 U.S. 15 Meter Nationals gliding competition using winglets on his prototype Scimitar sailplane.
The Masak winglets were originally retrofit to production sailplanes, but within 10 years of their introduction, most high-performance gliders were equipped from the factory with winglets. It took over a decade for winglets to first appear on a production airliner, the original application that was the focus of the NASA development in the 1970s. Yet, once the advantages of winglets were proven in competition, adoption was swift with gliders. The point difference between the winner and the runner-up in soaring competition is often less than one percent, so even a small improvement in efficiency is a large competitive advantage.
Many non-competition pilots installed Masak's winglets for the handling benefits as well. The benefits are notable, because sailplane winglets must be removable to allow the glider to be stored in a trailer
, so they are usually installed only at the pilots' preference. Today, following on the work of Masak and Maughmer, new glider wings are designed concurrently with the winglet, achieving higher efficiency than retrofitted winglets, with drag less than the theoretical minimum for a fully elliptical wing of the same span.
. It employed many of his design modifications, including a completely new wing
and tailplane
. The composite
wing used a flexible S-glass
torsion box
spar
, with stiff kevlar
skins. "We get superior twist characteristics as a function of speed," Masak claimed. And the soft bending "reduces the local angle of attack during gusts to better keep the airfoil in the laminar-flow range." The wing planform
was optimized continuously along the entire span, dispensing with typical straight-tapered sections. It won the Design News magazine Unique Airplane design contest in 1995.
The Scimitar featured an acoustic boundary layer
flow control system to prevent laminar
boundary layer flow separation
, using a smaller, more highly cambered
airfoil with a greater lift coefficient
. "It's always good to have laminar flow," says Masak, "but you'd rather have turbulent attached flow than laminar separation."
He flew a later version of this glider, with factory built Ventus 2 wings, in the 2004 U.S. 15 Meter Nationals gliding competition being held at Mifflin County Airport
, the same contest he won 11 years earlier. While flying a competition task, he crashed in a syncline
fold in the Tussey Mountain
ridge, a few miles south of the village of Alexandria, Pennsylvania
at
40°29.94′N 78°08.49′W. He was attempting to cross the ridge line upwind, and encountered sinking air and turbulence in the lee of the mountain crest, resulting in an inadvertent stall
/spin
. The crash was not survivable, and he was killed on impact.
In his glider, he installed an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), although it was not required. The wreckage was found in less than 24 hours, even though it was in steep terrain in a remote forested water-shed area, not visible from the air. As a result of this accident, and the subsequent search and rescue
, ELT's are now required in many gliding competitions.
, Wil Schuemann, George B. Moffat, Jr.
and Richard Schreder
for their pioneering work that inspired him.
applied in the petroleum industry
.
– Apparatus for agitated fluid discharge – Method for removing a deposit using pulsed fluid flow – System and method for NMR logging with helical polarization – Method and apparatus for nuclear magnetic resonance measuring while drilling – Temperature compensated magnetic circuit – Magnetic resonance fluid analysis apparatus and method – Pressure reading tool – Method and apparatus for nuclear magnetic resonance measuring while drilling – Temperature compensated magnetic field apparatus for NMR measurements – Method and apparatus for nuclear magnetic resonance measuring while drilling – Method and apparatus for nuclear magnetic resonance measuring while drilling – Inverse vertical seismic profiling using a measurement while drilling tool as a seismic source – Inverse vertical seismic profiling using a measurement while drilling tool as a seismic source – Integrated modulator and turbine-generator for a measurement while drilling tool – Mud pump noise cancellation system and method – Method and apparatus for measuring the quality of a cement to a casing bond – Pump jack slant wells
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, inventor, and glider pilot. He graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science
Bachelor of Applied Science
The Bachelor of Applied Science, often abbreviated as BAS, BSAS. BASc or BAppSc is an undergraduate degree awarded for a course of study that generally lasts three to four years in the United Kingdom and Australia, and four to six years in Canada, the Netherlands and the United States.-Usage:In...
degree in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
in May 1981 from the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
, Ontario Canada. He earned his glider pilot license
Glider pilot license
In most countries one is required to obtain a glider pilot license or certificate before acting as pilot of a glider. The requirements vary from country to country....
at the age of 16 and his power pilot license at the age of 18, both of which are the minimum age to do so. Peter was a Canadian soaring record holder and represented Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and later the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the World Gliding Championships
World Gliding Championships
The World Gliding Championships is a gliding competition held every two years or so by the FAI Gliding Commission. The dates are not always exactly two years apart, often because the contests are sometimes held in the summer in the Southern Hemisphere....
. He logged almost 2000 hours of glider flight time. He was living in West Chester, Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania
The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,461 at the 2010 census.Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, Marsh Creek State Park, and other historical attractions are near West Chester...
with his wife Adrienne and their three children when he died.
Winglets
In 1987, Peter Masak, worked together with Mark D. MaughmerMark D. Maughmer
Dr. Mark D. Maughmer is a Professor of Aerospace Engineering in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University...
, an associate professor of aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...
at the Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, to design winglets for his racing sailplane to improve performance. Others had attempted to apply Richard T. Whitcomb's NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
winglets to gliders before, and they did improve climb performance, but this did not offset the parasite drag penalty in high speed cruise. Masak was convinced it was possible to overcome this hurdle.
Gliding competitions
Some of the pilots in the sport of gliding take part in gliding competitions. These are usually racing competitions, but there are also aerobatic contests and on-line league tables.-History of competitions:...
. At the 1991 World Gliding Championships
World Gliding Championships
The World Gliding Championships is a gliding competition held every two years or so by the FAI Gliding Commission. The dates are not always exactly two years apart, often because the contests are sometimes held in the summer in the Southern Hemisphere....
in Uvalde, Texas
Uvalde, Texas
Uvalde is a city in and the county seat of Uvalde County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,929 at the 2000 census.Uvalde was founded by Reading Wood Black in 1853 as the town of Encina. In 1856, when the county was organized, the town was renamed Uvalde for Spanish governor Juan de...
, the trophy for the highest speed went to a glider with Masak's winglets. Masak went on to win the 1993 U.S. 15 Meter Nationals gliding competition using winglets on his prototype Scimitar sailplane.
The Masak winglets were originally retrofit to production sailplanes, but within 10 years of their introduction, most high-performance gliders were equipped from the factory with winglets. It took over a decade for winglets to first appear on a production airliner, the original application that was the focus of the NASA development in the 1970s. Yet, once the advantages of winglets were proven in competition, adoption was swift with gliders. The point difference between the winner and the runner-up in soaring competition is often less than one percent, so even a small improvement in efficiency is a large competitive advantage.
Many non-competition pilots installed Masak's winglets for the handling benefits as well. The benefits are notable, because sailplane winglets must be removable to allow the glider to be stored in a trailer
Trailer (vehicle)
A trailer is generally an unpowered vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle. Commonly, the term trailer refers to such vehicles used for transport of goods and materials....
, so they are usually installed only at the pilots' preference. Today, following on the work of Masak and Maughmer, new glider wings are designed concurrently with the winglet, achieving higher efficiency than retrofitted winglets, with drag less than the theoretical minimum for a fully elliptical wing of the same span.
Scimitar sailplane
Peter Masak was the designer and builder of the Scimitar sailplane prototype, based on the Schempp-Hirth VentusSchempp-Hirth Ventus
-References:**Thomas F, Fundamentals of Sailplane Design, College Park Press, 1999*Simons M, Segelflugzeuge 1965-2000, Eqip, 2004*-External Links:**...
. It employed many of his design modifications, including a completely new wing
Wing
A wing is an appendage with a surface that produces lift for flight or propulsion through the atmosphere, or through another gaseous or liquid fluid...
and tailplane
Tailplane
A tailplane, also known as horizontal stabilizer , is a small lifting surface located on the tail behind the main lifting surfaces of a fixed-wing aircraft as well as other non-fixed wing aircraft such as helicopters and gyroplanes...
. The composite
Glass-reinforced plastic
Fiberglass , is a fiber reinforced polymer made of a plastic matrix reinforced by fine fibers of glass. It is also known as GFK ....
wing used a flexible S-glass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
torsion box
Torsion box
A torsion box consists of two skins to carry the applied loads on either side of a core material usually constructed as a lightweight grid of thin beams. A hollow core door is probably the most commonly found example of a torsion box structure. Like an I beam or truss, the idea is to use less...
spar
Spar (aviation)
In a fixed-wing aircraft, the spar is often the main structural member of the wing, running spanwise at right angles to the fuselage. The spar carries flight loads and the weight of the wings whilst on the ground...
, with stiff kevlar
Kevlar
Kevlar is the registered trademark for a para-aramid synthetic fiber, related to other aramids such as Nomex and Technora. Developed at DuPont in 1965, this high strength material was first commercially used in the early 1970s as a replacement for steel in racing tires...
skins. "We get superior twist characteristics as a function of speed," Masak claimed. And the soft bending "reduces the local angle of attack during gusts to better keep the airfoil in the laminar-flow range." The wing planform
Planform
In aviation, a planform is the shape and layout of a fixed-wing aircraft's fuselage and wing. Of all the myriad planforms used, they can typically be grouped into those used for low-speed flight, found on general aviation aircraft, and those used for high-speed flight, found on many military...
was optimized continuously along the entire span, dispensing with typical straight-tapered sections. It won the Design News magazine Unique Airplane design contest in 1995.
The Scimitar featured an acoustic boundary layer
Boundary layer
In physics and fluid mechanics, a boundary layer is that layer of fluid in the immediate vicinity of a bounding surface where effects of viscosity of the fluid are considered in detail. In the Earth's atmosphere, the planetary boundary layer is the air layer near the ground affected by diurnal...
flow control system to prevent laminar
Laminar flow
Laminar flow, sometimes known as streamline flow, occurs when a fluid flows in parallel layers, with no disruption between the layers. At low velocities the fluid tends to flow without lateral mixing, and adjacent layers slide past one another like playing cards. There are no cross currents...
boundary layer flow separation
Flow separation
All solid objects travelling through a fluid acquire a boundary layer of fluid around them where viscous forces occur in the layer of fluid close to the solid surface. Boundary layers can be either laminar or turbulent...
, using a smaller, more highly cambered
Camber (aerodynamics)
Camber, in aeronautics and aeronautical engineering, is the asymmetry between the top and the bottom surfaces of an aerofoil. An aerofoil that is not cambered is called a symmetric aerofoil...
airfoil with a greater lift coefficient
Lift coefficient
The lift coefficient is a dimensionless coefficient that relates the lift generated by a lifting body, the dynamic pressure of the fluid flow around the body, and a reference area associated with the body...
. "It's always good to have laminar flow," says Masak, "but you'd rather have turbulent attached flow than laminar separation."
He flew a later version of this glider, with factory built Ventus 2 wings, in the 2004 U.S. 15 Meter Nationals gliding competition being held at Mifflin County Airport
Mifflin County Airport
Mifflin County Airport is a public-use airport in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in Reedsville, northwest of Lewistown. The airport lies in the Kishacoquillas Valley, south of Stone Mountain and north of Jacks Mountain in the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians. It is owned...
, the same contest he won 11 years earlier. While flying a competition task, he crashed in a syncline
Syncline
In structural geology, a syncline is a fold, with younger layers closer to the center of the structure. A synclinorium is a large syncline with superimposed smaller folds. Synclines are typically a downward fold, termed a synformal syncline In structural geology, a syncline is a fold, with younger...
fold in the Tussey Mountain
Tussey Mountain
]Tussey Mountain is a stratigraphic ridge in central Pennsylvania, United States, trending east of the Bald Eagle, Brush, Dunning and Evitts Mountain ridges...
ridge, a few miles south of the village of Alexandria, Pennsylvania
Alexandria, Pennsylvania
Alexandria is a borough in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 401 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
at
40°29.94′N 78°08.49′W. He was attempting to cross the ridge line upwind, and encountered sinking air and turbulence in the lee of the mountain crest, resulting in an inadvertent stall
Stall (flight)
In fluid dynamics, a stall is a reduction in the lift coefficient generated by a foil as angle of attack increases. This occurs when the critical angle of attack of the foil is exceeded...
/spin
Spin (flight)
In aviation, a spin is an aggravated stall resulting in autorotation about the spin axis wherein the aircraft follows a corkscrew downward path. Spins can be entered intentionally or unintentionally, from any flight attitude and from practically any airspeed—all that is required is sufficient yaw...
. The crash was not survivable, and he was killed on impact.
In his glider, he installed an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), although it was not required. The wreckage was found in less than 24 hours, even though it was in steep terrain in a remote forested water-shed area, not visible from the air. As a result of this accident, and the subsequent search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
, ELT's are now required in many gliding competitions.
Soaring accomplishments
- He earned FAIFédération Aéronautique InternationaleThe Fédération Aéronautique Internationale is the world governing body for air sports and aeronautics and astronautics world records. Its head office is in Lausanne, Switzerland. This includes man-carrying aerospace vehicles from balloons to spacecraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles...
1000 km diploma number 82 on April 30, 1987 by flying 1006.99 km in a Schleicher ASW 20Schleicher ASW 20|-References:**, Soaring, May 1978*Sailplane Directory, Soaring, July 1997*Thomas F, Fundamentals of Sailplane Design, College Park Press, 1999*Simons M, Segelflugzeuge 1965-2000, Eqip, 2004...
A from Ridge Soaring GliderportRidge Soaring GliderportRidge Soaring Gliderport is a public-use glider airport located two nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Unionville, in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is privately owned by Knauff & Grove, Inc....
. - The Soaring Society of AmericaSoaring Society of AmericaThe Soaring Society of America was founded at the instigation of Warren E. Eaton to promote the sport of soaring in the USA and internationally. The first meeting was held in New York City in the McGraw-Hill building on February 20, 1932. Its first objective was to hold a national soaring...
awarded him the Exceptional Achievement Award in 1995.
Publications
In 1991, he produced a booklet titled Performance Enhancement of Modern Sailplanes which described not just the theory, but the art of performance modifications, including winglets. In it, he credited Dick JohnsonDick Johnson (glider pilot)
Richard H. Johnson was a glider pilot, aeronautical engineer and prolific writer of articles for gliding magazines. He was an 11-time U.S. National Champion glider pilot, 9-time US Soaring Team pilot at the Soaring World Championships, held two World Gliding Records and is a member of the US...
, Wil Schuemann, George B. Moffat, Jr.
George B. Moffat, Jr.
George B. Moffat, Jr is an author, twice world champion glider pilot, and a member of the U.S. Soaring Hall of Fame. He began flying airplanes in 1953, gliders in 1959, entered his first national soaring competition in 1962, and was still an active competition pilot as of 2008...
and Richard Schreder
Richard Schreder
Richard E. Schreder was an American naval aviator and sailplane developer, responsible for design and development of the HP/RS-series kit sailplanes marketed from 1962 until about 1982...
for their pioneering work that inspired him.
Patents
Peter Masak was a prolific inventor, and he appears as inventor on 17 U.S. Patents, mostly in the area of mechanical engineeringMechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
applied in the petroleum industry
Petroleum industry
The petroleum industry includes the global processes of exploration, extraction, refining, transporting , and marketing petroleum products. The largest volume products of the industry are fuel oil and gasoline...
.
– Apparatus for agitated fluid discharge – Method for removing a deposit using pulsed fluid flow – System and method for NMR logging with helical polarization – Method and apparatus for nuclear magnetic resonance measuring while drilling – Temperature compensated magnetic circuit – Magnetic resonance fluid analysis apparatus and method – Pressure reading tool – Method and apparatus for nuclear magnetic resonance measuring while drilling – Temperature compensated magnetic field apparatus for NMR measurements – Method and apparatus for nuclear magnetic resonance measuring while drilling – Method and apparatus for nuclear magnetic resonance measuring while drilling – Inverse vertical seismic profiling using a measurement while drilling tool as a seismic source – Inverse vertical seismic profiling using a measurement while drilling tool as a seismic source – Integrated modulator and turbine-generator for a measurement while drilling tool – Mud pump noise cancellation system and method – Method and apparatus for measuring the quality of a cement to a casing bond – Pump jack slant wells